Poland ends special rules for Ukrainian refugees and folds them into EU-wide temporary-protection system
Germany prolongs Schengen border checks with Poland until mid-September, sparking business-travel concerns
Poland tightens eligibility rules for 800-plus child benefit paid to Ukrainian families
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Poland folds Ukraine-only refugee act into general foreigners law, extending stays but trimming privileges
President Karol Nawrocki has scrapped the 2022 Special Act that granted Ukrainians unique residency and benefit rights, folding those provisions into Poland’s ordinary foreigner-protection law. Existing temporary-protection holders keep their status until at least March 2027, but newcomers face stricter deadlines and means-tested benefits. Businesses must switch to standard digital filing and higher fees when hiring Ukrainians. The change normalises Poland’s migration rules and could slow—but also standardise—case processing.
Exit from Ottawa Convention lets Poland deploy anti-personnel mines along eastern frontier within 48 hours
Poland formally left the Ottawa land-mine treaty on 20 February, enabling rapid mining of its Belarusian and Russian borders under the PLN 10 billion East Shield programme. Officials say mines will be a last-resort deterrent, but NGOs warn of humanitarian and trade impacts. Travel and logistics firms should expect a longer exclusion zone and higher insurance premiums for operations in eastern Poland.
EU floats five-year multi-entry Schengen visas for ‘trusted travellers’; Poland backs plan to cut consular queues
Brussels has proposed granting vetted applicants five-year multi-entry Schengen visas as part of a ‘Smart Borders’ package unveiled on 20 February. Poland, struggling with surging business-visa demand, backs the measure, saying it would cut queues and dovetails with its own consular digitalisation. The scheme could speed corporate travel but comes with tougher overstay enforcement via the new Entry/Exit System.